Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Hello, Dolly

My reputation as an ass-kicking, macho all-American he-man precedes me; so I need not explain how excited I was to find myself with a legitimate work-related reason to buy a late Victorian porcelain shoulder head doll.

This is Ethel.

I found her ignominiously tumbled into a heap of plastic action figures and cheap jewelry on a table at the Kane County Fairgrounds. She was filthy but intact (I know the feeling) and marked with a ridiculously low price, which I whittled away to a shockingly low price.

Ethel is a "Pet Name" doll, manufactured by the German firm Hertwig. The Pet Name line was created in 1895 specifically for export to the United States, presumably because then as now American children were considered too unimaginative to do anything so taxing as name their own dolls.

As you can see, she's minus her original body, which likely was sewn from cloth printed in American flags or the letters of the alphabet. After studying a bunch of photographs of extant period pieces, I cut up an old cotton bed sheet and fashioned a new one. It came out tolerably well, I think, given that the sewing machine and I are still getting acquainted. All that's left is to embroider her fingers and stitch the whole assembly to her shoulders.

Before I do that, though, Ethel has asked leave to present her very striking signature series of tableaux vivants, "Impressions of Famous Women."

She looks amazingly like my Great Aunt Ethel who was born in 1896. Same stern expression and waved hair. Of course, Aunt Ethel's cheeks were never so rosy - "only strumpets use rouge"....a direct quote from the old dear.

My alter ego wishes it had your sense of humor. Thank you, once again, for making me laugh so hard at work that I had to clamp my hand over my mouth so that my co-workers wouldn't hear me laughing. They did hear me as I hit the floor, though... By the way, Ethel's Ann Coulter imitation is spot-on!

I always look forward to your new postings, but today's was even better than usual. I, too, vote for Ann Coulter for the last pic, although it was close. And, does the head turned backward for Mary indicate some suspicion that she may have been a witch as well as bloody inconvenient?

When I laughed out loud at Ethel's poses, my 6-year-old son asked me what was so funny. I haven't told him yet about severing one's head from one's body as a form of punishment, so thought it best to distract him with chocolate.

Wonderful as always!(I can hear your voice as I read this, as it's just like how you would read for "Cast On". That illustrious podcast is how I came to hear of you!)

Franklin, I just want you to know that I posted a link to today's blog on my Facebook page and SEVERAL of my non-knitting friends picked it up and re-posted because we all agree it is brilliant! (But then, I tend to always think your posts are brilliant.) Love to Dolores!

My mother and her sister shared a doll named Edith. She might be Ethel's second-cousin. When Edith was bequested to me (she has since been passed onto my niece), she came with only a cape and a beret. She apparently had a hard life with my mother and aunt. I made clothes for her, including handknit silk stockings. Have fun dressing Ethel! I had a great time figuring out just what Edith should be wearing with her cape and hat.

Despite explaining that she does not possess the correct accessories to make a marriage work with you, my 17yo daughter insists that you and she are to wed when she has grown. I must admit the thought of you as my son-in-law has much appeal, especially after that photo essay. How do you feel about kosher food and Mimosas for Christmas brunch?

The name "Ethel" only means one thing to me: Lucille Ball's sidekick. Oddly enough, your new addition does, kind of, if I squint my eyes very hard, resemble what I think Ms. Vance looked like as a younger woman.

When are you going to start looking for a bigger place in a better neighborhood? Ethel looks as though she is accustomed to certain standard of living and a certain regard, and she is presently "not amused". Perhaps she can be temporarily mollified by a new wardrobe (and a new corpus), but I suspect she is going to initially attempt to treat you as just one of her minions.

Kane County Fairgrounds? Damn, that rings a bell deep down in my memory. At sometime I was there when I was much younger. I was there for a fair, it had to be 45 years ago. Now I'll have to call my mother and ask. This is just going to drive me nuts! Thanks alot Franklin! ;o)

Quite a find! It's so funny to see how the same mold can yield very different facial expressions depending on paint and wear. This Ethel, for example, is certainly not a perky, chipper flibbertigibbet either (there is something world-weary and a bit wistful in her expression, I think). Your Ethel - your Ethel on the other hand. Back when I worked in natural foods, I would have flagged her as a customer seeking psyllium husk and/or senna tea.

Holy crap Franklin! That was hilarious. Somewhere in the mass of bookshelves in my house I have a copy of Zero Mostel's Book of Villains. It's all photos of him in a really sloppy suit with a bunch of props doing different villains and it makes me cry laughing every time. This totally reminded me of it.

Franklin, I have one of these dolls in original condition, with a shiny brocade dress, satin petticoat and pantaloons. She has porcelain feet too with dainty little dance flats. I should take pix, huh?

I've gotten into dolls this summer after seeing an awesome exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum - a china head doll with a custom-made wardrobe including some wee knits. Ethel is adorable, and I'm totally impressed with your sewing up her body.

Oh, Franklin, I was just catching up with your posts. You are too funny! Ann Coulter really put the icing on the cake but I noticed that only one person got the Ann Boleyn reference. (Must have been too subtle...) Love Ya!

Your story about wanting a doll and not being able to get one nearly made me CRY. :(

I'm SO glad you found Ethel, and that you're going to give her the kind of home she DESERVES, and the kind of home you've ALWAYS wanted to give a doll. What a gorgeous tale! And take a picture of you snuggling her once she's "all done up", willya?

LMAO----here i am, wondering where the rest of this beautiful project is. Clicked on the link to check out how you did her body...and bam! Head on ass!! that is RICH!! whew...okay, i think i'm done. LOL

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